|
Welcome to the Office of Academic Support
Academic Support is designed to help all students maximize their law school success by fostering key study, analytical, and life skills. Academic Support has three emphases: (1) helping students develop critical skills needed to succeed in law school, on the bar exam, and in practice, (2) providing individual advising to help students get the most out of their law school years, and (3) helping students prepare for admission to the bar. Academic Support offers a safe, non-judgmental place to ask questions (non-academic and academic alike) and receive assistance and referrals.
Critical Skills. If you master the following critical skills, your study of law will be easier and more effective:
Reading actively and critically,
Briefing cases,
Taking and transforming notes,
Synthesizing rules,
Using learning styles effectively,
Using study groups effectively,
Using study aids effectively,
Learning and remembering material,
Creating course summaries or "outlines",
Creating flowcharts,
Spotting issues in a fact pattern,
Analyzing facts in light of the ruling law,
Managing time and setting goals,
Managing stress, and
Writing effectively.
See tips for 1L success from successful students and a recipe for success from the director.
Thinking about course selection for next year? Consult the Law Student Handbook for graduation and course information, and check out the Advising web site for handy worksheets.
Admission to the bar is the capstone to your successful law school experience. On the Academic Support bar admission pages, you can find descriptions of the bar exam for all fifty states, as well as information on character and fitness, registration requirements, online bar essay questions, and more.
Other Services. Only half-jokingly, the Academic Support mission is to answer two questions: "Who do I ask about . . . " and "I feel stupid asking this question, but . . . ." Scroll to the top of the page and you'll find that these pages give you information on LL.M. programs, law school study abroad programs, legal writing competitions, external scholarships available to law students, and much more. We welcome your suggestions!
Contact us. Come to the Office of Academic Support, located in Room 123C in the Student Services Suite. Or contact
Nancy Luebbert, Director of Academic Support
University of Idaho College of Law
P.O. Box 442321
Moscow, Idaho 83844-2321
208-885-6211
208-885-5709 fax
lawsupport@uidaho.edu
Last updated 2007-07-10 |
What Students Say About Academic Support
|
I cannot express how helpful the [peer advisor] program was for me. My [peer advisor] was extremely helpful in introducing study aids, practice problems, and methods of thinking like a lawyer, studying, etc. that really made the first semester less difficult. These are skills that I will forever have with me.
1L , 2d semester |
|
[The Academic Support Director] has, I believe, a genuine desire to see students not only succeed, but realize their full potential. . . . [She] worked with me in brief weekly sessions to plan exam and study strategies. As a direct result of our efforts, my GPA is now above the necessary mark, and I placed in the top 20% of my class for the semester.
2L on scholarship, following release of 2d semester grades |
|
I think that [Academic Support] is a good program to help entering students become accustomed to the rigors of law school and also to become inducted to our school society. I know how helpful my [peer advisor] was.
1L |
|
I appreciate your comments on my practice exam. You are correct, practice exams are critical to do well on actual exams.
1L, 1st semester |
My [peer advisor] made law school seem a little less daunting.
1L, 1st semester
|
My impromptu session with our director of academic support on [a] practice exam was immensely helpful. It told me to trust my instincts and forced me to focus on the significance of the facts in the question to determine what issues from my outline are relevant to the answer. While I still feel somewhat mentally disorganized, I have a base to work from in developing a mindset or system for answering exam questions.
1L, 1st semester |
I about fainted when I read the standing card. I owe a lot of my success to you. . . . Hey, if you ever doubt the Academic Support Program for any reason, just look at my grades and remember how important and effective the program is.
2L, following release of 2d semester grades |
|
Thank you for all you do. You are a tremendous asset to all of us students, particularly the 1Ls. Most of us would be completely lost without your guidance and encouragement. I am glad to have come to see you when I did -- however, I will avail myself of your services more often next semester. I found your advice wise and your patience refreshing.
1L, second semester |
|
You do a great job helping us out. I am very grateful the school has support like this for us.
1L |
|
[T]hank you for all the advice and support you've given this semester. . . . I don't know how I would've made it through without [Academic Support].
2L |
|
I wanted to thank you for your consisent, infinite support and guidance, and endless supply of dum-dums. Your presence at the university makes a tremendous difference in the lives of so many students, and I will never forget how kind and supportive you were to me during my first semester of law school.
1L, 2d semester |
Thank you for taking the time to meet with me -- I appreciated the helpful tips & followup! It's wonderful to have such a great avenue of support.
|
Thank you for being such an unfailing source of support to me these last three years. . . . I so value how you treat everyone equally and believe all of us can succeed.
3L, at graduation |
|
The Academic Support Office is a big reason I survived my first year of law school. Don’t be afraid to use [the Director] and the [peer advisors]; the Academic Support Program is a great resource for all students.
2L |
 |